ABOUT

Meet Brad

Sims Tattoos was set up by myself, Brad Sims, in June 1992. I had been teaching myself (not advisable, kids!) at home for a couple of years, thanks to some very trusting, possibly insane friends who let me conduct my experiments on their skin. My first premises was in Portland Road, South Norwood where I stayed till 2001. I then moved to Whitehorse Road in Croydon till 2009, when I relocated to my current premises at 69 Windmill Road.

Sims Tattoos has always been and will continue to be a down-to-earth tattoo studio with no arty-farty pretnetiousness. Only the best and safest equipment is used in the tattoo procedure, and all styles of work are happily undertaken.

BRAD

OWNER

Owner of Sims Tattoos since 1992. Loves large-scale oriental-influenced and dark, marcarbre work. Believes all you need to know about an artist is in their work. Nothing more.

GALLERY

BRAD’S WORK

Here at Sims, I feel the best way to judge any tattooist is the quality of their work. Check out the gallery of my work to see just some of the things I do, and maybe gain some ideas for your next (or first) tattoo. But remember, originality is best. If you’re not sure whether an idea will work, just pop into the studio and I’ll be happy to chat to you about it.

AFTERCARE

CARING FOR YOUR INK

Congratulations! You’re now the owner of a brand new tattoo. But what do you do now? Well, if you’ve had a tattoo before, then you probably know everything you’re about to read here – but it never hurts to refresh your memory. If you’ve never had a tattoo before, however, then you must read this and adhere to the instructions below. It can be the difference having a great looking tattoo that’ll stay looking great for many years or a painful, scabby one that’ll most likely need retouching sooner rather than later.

1

Remove and throw away dressing from anywhere between 2 to 24 hours, depending on the size and complexity of the tattoo. Ask us if you are unsure.

2

Wash gently with warm water and soap and your bare hand. Do not use a flannel or similar.

3

Pat area dry lightly with a clean towel.

4

Wash hands before applying a small amount of cream – we recommend Bepanthen Nappy Care Ointment. Yes, it’s a nappy rash cream, but don’t laugh! It works wonders on tattoos. Make sure the cream is rubbed in well to the tattoo and do not leave any on the surface of the skin. This cream may be used 2 times a day.

5

Repeat this process daily until the tattoo is healed. (Wash once a day – cream twice.)

6

Whilst your tattoo is healing do not to pick, scratch, deface or infect it with any substance. This is what leads to bad scarring and poor looking tattoos!

7

Try not to sleep on it or wear clothing that will rub on it.

FAQs

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

I’m thinking about getting tattoo. Do you have any advice for me?

Many people are getting tattooed at the moment to be part of a fashionable elite or to copy their favourite celebrity. People who get ‘fad’ tattoos often regret it when the ‘fad’ is over. Personally I have seen many trends come and go and my advice is to look a little deeper. Rather than getting names or clubs or band names, etc. why not get something a little more personal or vague? With many people this works best in the long run. Tattooing is a unique opportunity for self-expression, use it wisely.

How do I book an appointment? Can I do it online?

No. We don’t take bookings online or over the phone. To book an appointment, you’ll have to physically drop by the studio and talk to us and book it in in person. This allows us to give you a quote of how long the work will take, collect the deposit (25% of the final amount based on an hourly rate), and you can check out the studio and take a look at our work and talk to us in person, which if it’s your first time getting tattooed is a godsend, as the more you know about where you’re getting tattooed the less nerve-wracking the experience will be!

How old do I have to be to get a tattoo?

We have a strict over 18’s policy. You must be over 18 years of age, and have valid ID (driving licence, passport). If we’re not conviced that you’re over 18, and you have no ID. Then no tattoo.

But my parent/guardian said I could get one, and said they’d accompany me!

That’s not a question, and it’s still no. We do not perform tattoos on people who are younger than 18 years of age, and if you find someone who will do it for you, firstly, I would suggest you think twice and secondly, they would be BREAKING THE LAW.

Do you have any rules regarding the studio?

Yes! Please respect the rules in a tattoo studio. These are no smoking, no kids, no booze, and make a note of the deposit policy. These rules may seem petty, but they are there for a reason. Show some respect and you’ll get some back. Plus, mobile phones to be switched off at all times in working area.

Do you accept Debit Cards, Credit Cards or Paypal?

No, we accept cash, cash or cash.

What is your hygiene policy?

As previously stated, it’s our policy to uphold the high standards of work and hygiene that you would come to expect to find in the new millennium, without ever forgetting the customs and traditions of our noble art form’s past. Our hygiene policy is what you would expect to find in any tattoo studio.

All equipment must be either used once and disposed of, or cleaned in an ultrasonic tank and then vacuum sterilised, with all immediate surfaces disinfected THOROUGHLY. Also, a certificate showing registration with the local health authority should be on display. If it is not, walk out!

If in doubt about the hygiene procedure in any studio, don’t be shy, ASK! If a tattooist or staff at a studio are not willing to explain how things are done to your satisfaction, including us, walk out and find someone who will!